Missionvale Chardonnay

Soft cheese, fish pâté, Bouillabaisse or flavoured fish will all work splendidly with this vintage, as well as chicken or sushi dishes.

A more than respectable vintage, reflecting drier conditions with corresponding healthy fruit of balanced maturity. Concentration is arguably the characteristic signature of this harvest where fuller bodied wines can be expected. Early harvesting of a relatively small crop ensured that the grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness. Our Chardonnay vineyards are planted exclusively to the 95 clone – particularly successful in the Hemel-en-Aarde and known for its structural intensity.

Temperatures are monitored during the peak of fermentation, while the lees is left undisturbed and only partial malolactic fermentation permitted – in order to retain freshness. A third new oak was employed and maturation on primary lees took place for nine months.

Bunches are pressed without crushing and settled overnight, before being transferred to French oak barrels.

One of South Africa’s most awarded boutique wine estates lies in a scenic valley just an hour and a half from Cape Town called Hemel-en-Aarde or Heaven-and-Earth. Framed by great fold mountains and breath-taking ocean views it is one of the coolest wine-making regions in the Cape with duplex soil structures and sun-facing slopes. The promise of the unique terroir is harnessed by winemaker Chris Albrecht in slow-ripened flavour-rich wines of exceptional quality. Bouchard Finlayson is globally acclaimed for producing the best Pinot Noir in South Africa as well as exceptional Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. The vineyards are surrounded by an indigenous floral conservancy alive with birdsong and wildflowers. Beyond the beauty of the farm itself you can discover the enchantments of the local area. Some of the popular attractions of nearby Hermanus include whale-watching; shark-cage diving; mountain hiking or biking; browsing art antiques and shops; and of course the white sandy beaches.